Completed in 2013 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the historic highway

Many have asked about a studio recording, but as of now, only demos and live recordings have been made. However, the contracts for recording the entire suite in the Czech Republic in June 2017 are now complete! A record label is covering much of the costs, a grant from the University of South Carolina will cover $15,000, and the composer is currently seeking grants and donations for the remaining $11,000. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Lincoln Highway Suite Recording Fund hosted by the University of South Carolina Upstate Foundation, please contact him at nstolz@uscupstate.edu for more information.

Click HERE to listen to all five movements in a row (demo recording/MIDI orchestra).

The Lincoln Highway, America’s first cross-country highway (established in 1913) connects two very exciting cities: New York and San Francisco. The music heard in the outer movements ("From the Hudson" and "Golden State Romp") represent this vibrancy. Either movement can work as an opener or as a finale, so the piece may be performed "Westward" (I-V) or "Eastward" (V-I). "Metals Heartland," incorporating some metallic percussion, depicts the area sometimes pejoratively referred to as the "Rust Belt" (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Eastern Illinois). "Prairie View" paints the scenery along the Lincoln Highway from the tall-grass prairies of Illinois and Iowa to the mixed- and short-grass prairies of Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming. "Traversing the Mountains" takes the listener along the Lincoln from Wyoming, through Colorado and Utah, and across Nevada.

The Eastern terminus of the Lincoln Highway is located in Times Square. The fast tempo of “From The Hudson” (NY, NJ) represents the fast-paced life in New York (City). There are jazz-like elements as well: brass with Harmon mutes, walking bass lines and percussion played with brushes.

“Metals Heartland” (PA, OH, IN, IL) opens with the sounds of metal being struck in a mechanical manner, like workers laboring away in a factory. In contrast, a beautiful, soaring melody represents the gorgeous rural views on finds along the Lincoln in this part of the country.

“Prairie View” (IL, IA, NE, WY) has a static, gentle and open quality that reflects the open prairies of the Midwest. Its middle section has more motion, and it represents the rolling hills over which the Lincoln navigates.

The intimidating mountains of the West are heard in “Traversing the Mountains” (WY, CO, UT, NV) as large, loud dissonant chords. Between these mountains are flat, serene valleys; the gentle melodies between these chords represent the road as it travels through the valleys.

The Lincoln’s Western terminus is located in San Francisco. The energy found in “Golden State Romp” (CA) mirrors the vibrancy of the Bay Area, and the attractive views of rural California are heard throughout the movement.

In 2014, the Sandhills Symphony Orchestra (NE) became the first to perform the entire suite, followed by the DuPage Symphony Orchestra (IL) in 2015. The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Symphonic Band was the first to perform the band version in its entirety. Other orchestras that have performed individual movements from the suite are the Clinton Symphony Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Joliet Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan State University of Denver Symphony Orchestra. Bands that have performed, or will perform, selections from the concert band version include ensembles from Ashford University (IA), Cornell College (IA), Kirkwood Community College (IA), Kutztown University (PA), Los Angeles Symphonic Winds, Omaha Symphonic Winds, Prairie State College (IL), San Francisco State University, and Winthrop University (SC).

This work is endorsed by the Lincoln Highway Association
Read their letter of support for this project:
Visit their website (www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org) to learn more about the history of the LH.